Thursday, June 14, 2012

Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Ph.D., from the University of Tokyo, will be giving a keynote presentation entitled "An Epic Journey to Publish Ferret H5N1 Transmission Studies" at the Influenza Research and Development Conference on July 9th-10th, 2012 in San Francisco, CA by GTC.Two recent studies describing the transmission of influenza viruses possessing mutant HAs of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses in ferrets were extensively discussed in the media prior to their publication. In this presentation, Dr. Kawaoka will discuss the findings and implications of their study on the molecular basis of the transmissibility of H5N1 influenza virus in ferrets and describe the biosafety/biosecurity and administrative oversight related to this study.Dr. Kawaoka has studied Tamiflu-resistant influenza viruses and has also undertaken the study of the 1918 Spanish flu virus. Information uncovered by Dr. Kawaoka is used globally by public health agencies as they undertake the enormous task of.. http://www.melodika.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=310954&Itemid=54

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

into Gansu, China, according to Xin reported hearing recently, Yuxi, Guyuan, Dalian, Liaoning and other places have occurred in poultry outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza or farms detected positive samples, the province the Jingtai also a series of an outbreak.Yesterday, reporter learned from the Chengguan District, the district convened the members of the headquarters unit for the control of major animal epidemic convened an emergency meeting of region control of major animal epidemic headquarters, the streets, the Bureau of Commerce, Trade and Industry Branch of the bazaars in the area. shopping malls, supermarkets, live poultry to set up inspection, verification inspection of things, and resolutely put an end to the illegal immigrant without a license and poultry products into the circulation...http://gansu.gscn.com.cn/system/2012/06/14/010102621.shtml

13, 2012 7:02 PM

By KAREN CHEN,

OTTAWA — Canadian researchers have pioneered a new treatment for Ebola, a deadly disease that kills up to 90 per cent of those infected within days.

The Winnipeg team’s treatment buys precious time for victims of the virus through an injection that is effective for up to 48 hours after exposure to the virus. Previous treatments only worked if administered within half an hour of infection.

The treatment works by slowing the virus, giving the body’s immune system more time to respond and kill off the Zaire strain of the virus, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

“It’s been a lot of work,” said Gary Kobinger, 43, lead author of the study. “We’re not an overly big community working on this problem, but it’s one with a lot of people and a lot of resources and a lot of heart.”Kobinger’s team has been tackling Ebola at the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory for nearly a decade.
The treatment uses three different antibodies, which are the body’s natural markers for invading viruses. Researchers isolated and cloned the antibodies to bring them to a high enough concentration to be effective in destroying the disease with 100-per-cent effectiveness if administered within 24 hours and 50-per-cent effectiveness within 48 hours.
The antibody cocktail mimics .. more here http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Canadian+researchers+make+Ebola+breakthrough/6777835/story.html

THE number of confirmed cases of Legionnaires disease has risen but the worst of the outbreak appears to be over, health chiefs have said.

There are two new confirmed cases of the disease, taking the total to 41.
They were both previously classed as "suspected" and the number of suspected cases has therefore dropped from 49 yesterday to 47 today.
So far one man has died, named locally as 56-year-old Robert Air, from Seafield in Edinburgh.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Edinburgh City Council are investigating the source of the outbreak in the south-west of the capital.
Of the cases being treated in hospital, 11 are in intensive care and 19 are on general wards.
A total of 18 cases are being treated in the community, while 32 have been discharged from hospital.
Seven cases are being treated outwith the NHS Lothian area...

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today
(June 13) provided the latest update on the suspected fatal case of enterovirus
infection involving a 4-year-old boy.

The laboratory result from the
CHP's Public Health Laboratory Centre today showed that the boy's nasopharyngeal
swab and endotracheal tube aspirate tested positive for Coxsackie A2 virus but
negative for EV71. The cause of the boy's death is under investigation by the
Coroner. The kindergarten which the deceased child attended has been
put under medical surveillance. So far there is no sign of enterovirus outbreak.
The kindergarten has undergone thorough disinfection on the advice of the CHP.
The CHP will continue to monitor the health of children in the kindergarten and
determine the need for further measures should there be any significant
changes.
Ends/Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

...a number of public hospital medical ward "bursting".。In the past two weeks, the average occupancy rate of public hospital medical wards close to a hundred percent, of which six, including the medical ward of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Tuen Mun and the Prince of Wales Hospital occupancy rate for two consecutive weeks of more than hundred percent..

....The boy attended kindergarten Huxiao Zhang said last night that the boy on the school on Friday did not have symptoms, the appearance is very healthy, the school has no other children of similar symptoms or infection. The school has asked the Centre for Health Protection on the handling, and have not received any instructions required to be closed.。 The school yesterday cleaning and disinfection of the campus. Students were killed, she felt very sad. Hong Kong University infection and infectious disease center, director of Ho Pak-leung said that the past, influenza, scarlet fever and enterovirus outbreak of the season, but this year the three kinds of infectious diseases broke out almost simultaneously, the situation particularly.。 Deaths appears, displaying the EV71 intestinal virus is active, the CHP needs to further examine the boy ...

DONG NAI - The Preventive Healthcare Centre in southern Dong Nai Province warned that hand-foot-mouth disease (HFM) and dengue fever has developed quickly and unexpectedly across the region.Centre statistics show that HFM disease has spread to 169 out of 171 communes, affecting 2,000 people and killing two since earlier this year.Meanwhile, nearly 1,800 people have contracted dengue fever in 154 communes, with one patient succumbing to the disease.Worse still, about 80 per cent of patients at Dong Nai's Children Hospital contracted both diseases, in part due to their attending unregistered, individually run kindergartens, according to their parents.The provincial Education and Training Department admits there are hundreds of unlicensed kindergartens where baby sitters are old and facilities lack hygienic standards.According to the centre, this is the peak time for the spread of diseases, with the number of people suffering from illnesses in Long Thanh, Nhon Trach and Trang Bom districts as well as Bien Hoa City currently higher than in previous years.While the provincial healthcare centre plans to kill mosquitoes and larva spreading dengue fever via chemical spraying, Director Cao Trong Nguong says this is not a solution.It is more important to raise peoples' awareness on health care, he stressed. - VNS http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/social-issues/226014/hfm-dengue-fever-develop-unpredictably.html

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- More than 982,932 cases of infectious diseases were reported on the Chinese mainland in May, resulting in 1,575 deaths, the Ministry of Health said Tuesday.
Most of the deaths, or 1,441 cases, were caused by Category B notifiable diseases. The five most frequently reported diseases last month included hepatitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, dysentery and gonorrhea, according to a statement released by the ministry.
Infectious diseases are separated into three categories in China according to their severity.
No cases of SARS, human-communicable bird flu, polio or diphtheria were reported in the month. Seven cases of cholera -- a Category A infectious disease -- were reported, but none were fatal, according to the statement.
Category C infectious diseases left 134 people dead, among whom 132 were killed by hand-foot-mouth disease, the statement said. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-06/12/c_131648374.htm

June 12 2012

Taiwan has detected food and mouth disease (FMD) at a pig farm in P'ing Tung county, the island's fourth case of the virus so far this year.
In a report sent to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on June 8, the Taiwanese veterinary authorities said sub-clinical FMD (serotype O) was found in 15 pigs during routine surveillance. No deaths were recorded and no animals were destroyed.

12 June 2012 | EN

Scientists hope the new test kit could halt the spread of global bird flu

Flickr/ILRI

[MANILA] Scientists in Singapore have developed a diagnostic kit that can detect all known strains of avian influenza (H5N1) virus within a few hours — a medical breakthrough, which is expected to limit chances of a global pandemic.

Scientists from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) have developed the most comprehensive and rapid H5N1 test kit to date — the H5N1 real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay. At present, the World Health Organization-recommended H5N1 diagnostic kit can detect only three out of ten distinct genetic groups. The other seven can be detected, but not within a single test.

The newly developed kit is capable of detecting all known strains of the H5N1 virus accurately and rapidly, with a single test.

"Our technology has greatly simplified and accelerated the process of detection and identification of new H5N1 variants. Such information is especially critical when the virus mutates to become more dangerous," said Masafumi Inoue, senior research scientist at A*STAR. Alongside Timothy Barkham,..

On 12/6, at a meeting of the National Steering Committee against bird flu took place in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan said if the livestock units continue to lose as large as today will narrow their production or "hanging cage", just four months we will be short of food. ..

By JuliyahTuesday, June 12, 2012 | 18:17Jakarta, InfoPublik - During January to May 2012, the number of cases of avian influenza (AI) reported as many as six cases with six deaths. Additionally this year, the province of Bengkulu and NTB reported cases of AI in humans.

This was said by the Acting / Deputy Minister of Health Ali Ghufron Mukti in a press release Public Puskom Strathmore on Tuesday (12/6). But the case continues to occur despite Indonesia most people including medical professionals, believe that the Influenza in Indonesia is a mild disease that self-limiting disease.

So far, Indonesia has not had a specific influenza immunization program."Although influenza vaccination to existing ones, but still given the seasonal nature Indonesia is only for people who travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj," he said.

Based on surveillance data Influenza Like Illness (ILI) in 24 health centers and the Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) in 30 hospitals Indonesia is reported to the National Institute of Health Research and Development (2012), showed an increase of influenza cases from October 2011 until February 2012.Cases of Influenza H5N1 found in poultry in 33 provinces in Indonesia. Since first reported in July 2005, the cumulative number of cases reached 189 with FB 157 deaths.

Stated, in Indonesia, mortality and morbidity due to FB is relatively low compared with other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. However, FB threats to human security is greater than any other infectious disease, because there is the possibility of mutation and initiate a pandemic influenza.

In addition, when the influenza pandemic occurs, the impact will affect all countries in the world. It is estimated there will be deaths in large numbers, drugs, inadequate social and economic disruption. Therefore, each state must prevent that happening and it's not always anticipate.

We remember the pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2003 and Pandemic Influenza H1N1 in 2009. The second pandemic has an impact not only health but also on economic and social aspects, he said.

Ali Ghufron stated, the Government of Indonesia has taken several steps influenza pandemic preparedness and response, including the strengthening of 100 bird flu referral hospitals, strengthening epidemiology and virology laboratories, the application of sentinel and routine surveillance, vaccine development, the implementation of the ecology and transmission, clinical spectrum, management of disease and molecular genetics, training, build coordination and distribution logistics arrangements as well.

"Indonesia and other developing countries have also succeeded in realizing the fair, transparent, and equitable framework in the WHO system," he said.

He explained that the framework of the fair, transparent, and equitable framework that established the World Health Assembly on the 64th WHA in 2011 in resolution WHA 64.

"This framework guarantees the right of all developing countries to gain equal access to affordable vaccines, antiviral, and diagnostic kit for influenza pandemic, and assisted in their vaccine production capacity," concludes Ali Ghufron.

2012-06-12 15:53:32According to the OIE website news, from March to June of this year, there were 4 cases of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak, a total of 30,087 poultry and birds infected with 10 733 deaths, culling of 138 030.Infection rates and mortality rates of 20.2% and 35.7% respectively. There were two cases of human infection with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, with one death.

It is reported that the avian flu in spring and autumn prone to the epidemic in May and June this year intensive occurrence of rare, the possibility of greatly increased regional bird flu pandemic broke out. Coupled with neighboring countries and regions, outbreaks are frequently reported, making the bird flu in Southeast Asia has become a truly "disaster area" a tremendous impact on economic development, but also greatly endanger the safety of the public health.EU, Canada and other countries accordingly have increased the intensity of the inspection and quarantine of poultry products, increase the difficulty of Inspection and Quarantine..... http://www.cqn.com.cn/news/zjpd/dfdt/581000.html

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is
investigating a suspected fatal case of enterovirus infection involving a
four-year-old boy.The boy, with good past health, developed fever, runny nose and cough
since June 9. His condition deteriorated rapidly and was found collapsed
in bed in his home in the late evening on June 10. On the same evening,
he was brought to the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde
Nethersole Eastern Hospital where he was certified dead in the early morning on
June 11.The nasopharyngeal swab and endotracheal tube
aspirate taken from the boy tested positive for enterovirus.
The boy has no recent travel history. His parents were asymptomatic.
He studied in a kindergarten in Chai Wan and there
is no recent outbreak of hand, foot, mouth disease in the
school.
CHP’s investigation continues. The cause of the boy's death is under
investigation by the Coroner.
This is the first suspected fatal case of enterovirus infection reported to
the CHP this year. The CHP recorded one fatal case in each of the year between
2009 and 2011.http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/116/25523.html

Monday, June 11, 2012

Could be nothing and I am searching the area, so any help is cool.
Maybe just a pneumonia and not really sars or bf.
In the thread it is mentioned
that if you post a falsehood, go to prison..sooo.. she evidently believes it. Shortly after that there were no more posts.. so we will have to see what else pops up.

Michael MacLeod 8 June 2012 15:50 BSTCases of a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires' disease rose to 88 on Monday, but are 'in line with expectations' according to the Health Secretary.
At noon on Monday there were 39 confirmed cases and 49 suspected cases.
Of those in hospital, 14 were in intensive care - one fewer than on Sunday - and 26 on general wards.
The Scottish Government posted its latest update online here.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Today’s developments, which show a slight increase, are in line with expectations. With a 14 day incubation period, we would expect there to be fluctuations over the next week or so. It is reassuring however that all those involved are continuing to respond well to being treated.
"NHS Lothian services are coping with the demands and the City of Edinburgh Council and the Health and Safety Executive continue to make significant progress in their investigation to identify the source of this outbreak."

11 June 2012

ITALY - the Italian veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease in Marche.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received Follow-up Report No. 1 on 8 June 2012. According to the report, the positivity regards pigeons kept in a backyard farm.

Out of 180 pigeons showing signs of susceptibility, 10 cases and deaths were reported. No birds were destroyed.

According to Chapter 10.9 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2011), the notification of this outbreak does not change the Newcastle disease free status of Italy and should not affect trade of poultry and their products since the birds involved in this outbreak do not fall within the OIE definition of poultry.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after collector K N Satheesh issued a month-long
prohibitory order in the capital considering the alarming number of fever cases,
a special squad swung into action on Saturday and issued warnings to
unauthorized slaughter houses in the city. Although the order is in effect, the
district administration has set a deadline for such slaughter houses to stop
operations by Monday.
The collector said that all street vendors, slaughter house owners, who are
found polluting the environment, have already been asked to close their
outlets.

The drive will be intensified starting Monday. Councillors will embark on an
intense campaign in their respective wards to prevent the spread of contagious
diseases after a meeting is convened by the collector on Monday. The squad
comprising officials of various departments will make sure that unauthorized
slaughter house owners are booked and their shops closed down.

Meanwhile, no fresh cases of fever were reported in the capital on Saturday.
"We do not have any new confirmed dengue cases in the capital. The door-to-door
campaigns by health officials will start next Monday," said district medical
officer (DMO) T Peethambaran. Till Friday, about 620 dengue cases were confirmed
in Thiruvananthapuram. Fever outbreak has also been reported in 43 wards of the
total 100 and corporation officials continued shifting garbage to Kochuveli for
the third day. Though locals protested against this move, police reminded them
about the prohibitory order forcing them to disperse.
A corporation official said that the civic body is trying to collect the
piled up garbage from different parts of the city and transport it to Kochuveli.
The garbage is used as filler for the construction of railway platforms. Six
trucks of garbage were transported to Kochuveli on Saturday. In the wake of
probable epidemic, the district collector had called for emergency measures to
be initiated to check the spread of diseases. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-10/thiruvananthapuram/32155336_1_fever-dengue-cases-prohibitory-order

Sunday, June 10, 2012

The monsoon has just set in and already hospitals across the city are witnessing
an increasing number of viral fever and suspected dengue cases. On an average,
every day Dr B.R. Ambedkar Medical College gets five to eight new cases of viral
fever for the past one week...
...At Jayanagar General Hospital, too, there has been a substantial increase in
the number of viral infection cases for the past few days. “Most people affected
by viral infections have common symptoms, like running nose, body pain,
headache, sore throat, fever for three or four days, cough and in some cases,
wheezing. Those suffering from gastrointestinal infections have diarrohoea,
vomiting and dehydration.”

The situation is no different at the paediatric
unit of Vani Vilas Hospital. Dr R. Premlatha, Paediatric ICU Incharge, Vani
Vilas Hospital, said: “For the past few days, we are getting an increasing
number of such cases in our paediatric section and some of these cases are
severe. Children are brought in bleeding condition and with shock due to high
fever. Few suspected cases of dengue too came in and their reports have been
sent to the Virology Institute at Victoria Hospital.”

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The number of confirmed and suspected
cases of Legionnaires' disease in Edinburgh has risen slightly to 82.

Figures released on Sunday showed one new confirmed case and one further
person suspected of having the disease.

It is the smallest daily increase since the outbreak was officially
acknowledged a week ago.

One man has died in the outbreak. He was Robert Air, who worked on a
construction site in the west of the city.

The latest figures show 37 confirmed cases and 45 suspected, with 15 people
in intensive care and 26 on general wards.

A total of 16 cases are being treated in the community and 19 have been
discharged from hospital.

Five cases are being treated outwith the NHS Lothian area. One patient the
north of England, two in NHS Tayside, one in NHS Lanarkshire and one patient
from NHS Highland is now being treated in Glasgow.

The Health and Safety Executive and Edinburgh City Council are continuing
their investigations into the possible source of the outbreak.

Cooling towers have been shut down at a whisky distillery in the south west
of the city.

The Health and Safety Executive served an improvement notice on the North
British Distillery for alleged failures to adequately control the risk of
legionella in one of its towers.

The company said it had taken its towers offline and halted production at its
Gorgie plant as a precaution.

Cooling towers at the
distillery are among several sites tested in Edinburgh

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "These latest figures are reassuring
and in line with expectations, and although it is too early to be definite, they
do suggest we are now in the later stages of this outbreak.

The latest reports from the Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGoRR) on the Edinburgh Legionnaires’ disease outbreak show that there are now 37 confirmed cases and 45 suspected cases. This is an increase of one in the total number of confirmed cases and an increase of one suspected case.

As at noon today, of those cases being treated in hospital, 15 are in intensive care and 26 are on general wards.

A total of 16 cases are being treated in the community, 19 have been discharged from hospital and one person has died.

Five cases are being treated outwith the NHS Lothian area. One patient is being treated in the north of England, two in NHS Tayside, one in NHS Lanarkshire and one patient from NHS Highland is now being treated in Glasgow. At this stage all these cases are considered to be linked to the south west Edinburgh outbreak.

The ages of the confirmed cases ranges between 33 and 76, with more males than females affected.

NHS 24 has received 630 calls to the dedicated helpline for Legionnaires’ disease...

Uncover scientific conference organized by the Assembly veterinary Egypt for Poultry, in conjunction with the company «Meevak» of vaccines veterinary, Saturday, the success of the research team Egyptian one of the private sector factories producing vaccines, veterinary, in cooperation with the General Authority for Veterinary Services, Animal Health Research Institute and the General Union of Poultry Producers

in the production of a new vaccine to combat the virus «IB» dual strain of local disease, which infects poultry, and caused the deaths of a large proportion of poultry during the past few months, which led to close to 4 thousand a poultry farm in 2011 after coming under heavy losses, is scheduled to be announced formally within two weeks.

.The poultry industry is facing a crisis in Egypt, after the high rate of infection among poultry flock infected with respiratory mutated «I.B »

Baatarath fierce new, due to increasing rates of loss of farms to 60% of the size of the herd poultry, especially broiler aged (22 and 35 days), where the stage raised poultry for sale in the market, recording losses in excess of one billion and a half billion pounds per session, and reflection on the increased rates of import of poultry unprecedented numbers of 50 thousand tons of poultry meat during the 5 months since last January.

. Dr. Magdy judge Professor of Poultry Diseases and Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Beni Suef during the conference, it is currently being calibrated vaccine and tested by a factor of control of veterinary vaccines for the losses to ensure the alignment of the strain currently circulating and causing the crisis, explaining that he will be traded after passing the tests, calibration and registration by the Authority General for Veterinary Services Laboratories and control of vaccines and serums, which expires in 15 days.

He said that strains of virus, the «IB» mutated, sharp and fast-spreading and..

WASHINGTON - Hong Kong is still in the peak period of influenza, the
CHP to 6 on the 3rd of this month, received a swine flu virus to Tamiflu
resistant cases in Hong Kong since mid-2009 The 20 cases.。 Patients
who had a fever of one-year-old girl, has been discharged, but she was infected
with the swine flu virus "Relenza" there is no emergence of drug
resistance.